Checking what VT sugar makers are doing

It looks good down here for next week. I am hoping for for a slight improvement in quality, but I will take what I get.
I collected buckets, barrels, and processed all my sap today and boiled till late. Sap was warm at 50-60 degrees for a long time, and never was more than moderately cloudy. As expected, syrup was DR, and just a little bit of a bite, so I guess it is slightly buddy. While I was collecting buckets I looked up now and then, and no obvious signs of buds on the sugars. I had pulled taps on some reds 3-4 days back.
I am just short of 150 gallons for the year.

We boiled a little concentrate on the stove and it was fine, so season still going. Sugar content was still 1.7%+ -- sap was a bit cloudy, but not terrible. No real big yeasty bubbles yet. Ended up making 65 gal DR yesterday with excellent flavor, bringing us to a total of 2,261 for a yield of 0.515 gal/tap. Will probably make another 50-60 gal today. Sap has definitely slowed down, but we have plenty of moisture in the woods, and nice cold weather coming tonite. Should be back in action by the middle of next week after a few days of nice cold weather and some rest.

Thank you Doc that's music to my ears. I cleaned all my tanks today and I am waiting for next week.

Spud

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Originally Posted by bairdswift

Spud- what are you plans with all the apple trees? Think the wife will allow the other 200? Why not maple saplings to tap? What's on the land the apple trees are being planted now?

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If I can hit .5 GPT I will order another 200 trees. I have NO interest in more maple trees so the saplings are out. The apple trees are being planted in a field right in front of my house. I had been letting a neighbor hay the fields but always dreamed of planting an apple orchard. I have room for about 2000 trees if I ever wanted to get that big.

Spud

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Originally Posted by woodchuck

Pulled the buckets tonight and heard the peepers on the way down. Ill leave the line taps in for now just in case. Spud, tell us more about the apple trees. I planted 6 Dunstan Chestnuts last year and have six more coming. Always wanted to do apples.
Thanks to all for the help and friendship.

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I currently have 13 verities of apple trees. Several people have asked over the last four years if I have a market for my apples. I'm told that I should line up a market for the apples before I plant the trees. I say plant the trees and get them started then find a market. A four year old tree will produce one bushel of apples. I have room for about 2000 trees but only 750 trees will fit in the field in front of my home. We are working on filling that field first and then see what happens. The orchard is just a hobby for now with hopes of making some money in the years to come. The thought is that when I have a bad sugaring season maybe I will have a good apple season. A little spring and fall money would be nice. I plan to buy a cider press and sell some of that also. I have 250 trees that are producing some apples. I have ordered some bee hives. Walking in my orchard is like therapy for me. Everyday during the summer months I take walks just looking at the trees and watching them grow. My wife thinks I'm crazy but does say she likes the looks of the orchard instead of a hay field. I bought a Ferris zero turn mower last spring and I enjoy mowing the orchard in the summer months. I also have Cherry, Plum, Pear and Apricot trees planted. It's all a hobby with hopes of making some money someday. If I never make a dime with the orchard that would be ok. The joy of planting and watching them grow is a lot of fun. Someday I will be an old man sitting on my porch drinking hard cider. I don't want to have to say I wish I had done this and that. I want to be able to say I did it all and had fun doing it. My kids help plant the apple trees and complain about it. I tell them that someday when they bring their kids to visit Grandma and Grandpa they can say they helped plant the orchard.

Spud

Spud, I'll buy some of your cider if you get a press. I used to make hard cider but some of the drive to do that faded when I realized I was putting way to much money and time into it and could get some cheap Natural Ice for half as much as the cider cost. But if I did it again i would buy some better equipment.

Dr Tim, what you said is also music to my ears. Although I visited JoeJ and two other sugarmakers today who were skeptical of the continuation of the season. JoeJ was going to see what Wednesday brought but I think the other two were gonna call it quits. Been to 2 sugarhouses that were boiling some syrup that smelled raisiny to me. Sour. One last night and one This morning. We boiled and made some great syrup last night. Really ready for more.

Spud- I like the way you think. Your thoughts are spot on!! Your kids will look back on this some day and it will fill there heart,no worries. I'm at the point where I'm trying to kick my dreams into gear so I don't look back and think I wish I had done such and such.. My dreams are a little crazy to, cows and maple.not many people of my age are dreaming of milking cows and making maple syrup. But then again most are not willing to work that hard anymore.

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Originally Posted by spud

I currently have 13 verities of apple trees. Several people have asked over the last four years if I have a market for my apples. I'm told that I should line up a market for the apples before I plant the trees. I say plant the trees and get them started then find a market. A four year old tree will produce one bushel of apples. I have room for about 2000 trees but only 750 trees will fit in the field in front of my home. We are working on filling that field first and then see what happens. The orchard is just a hobby for now with hopes of making some money in the years to come. The thought is that when I have a bad sugaring season maybe I will have a good apple season. A little spring and fall money would be nice. I plan to buy a cider press and sell some of that also. I have 250 trees that are producing some apples. I have ordered some bee hives. Walking in my orchard is like therapy for me. Everyday during the summer months I take walks just looking at the trees and watching them grow. My wife thinks I'm crazy but does say she likes the looks of the orchard instead of a hay field. I bought a Ferris zero turn mower last spring and I enjoy mowing the orchard in the summer months. I also have Cherry, Plum, Pear and Apricot trees planted. It's all a hobby with hopes of making some money someday. If I never make a dime with the orchard that would be ok. The joy of planting and watching them grow is a lot of fun. Someday I will be an old man sitting on my porch drinking hard cider. I don't want to have to say I wish I had done this and that. I want to be able to say I did it all and had fun doing it. My kids help plant the apple trees and complain about it. I tell them that someday when they bring their kids to visit Grandma and Grandpa they can say they helped plant the orchard.

Spud

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If you are interested in getting a lot of production out of your orchard should look into putting in a tall spindle system. (I know a bit about this since my father-in-law is one of the ones who has been researching it for years at Cornell - http://fruitgrowersnews.com/article/...or-the-future/ )

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Originally Posted by spud

I currently have 13 verities of apple trees. Several people have asked over the last four years if I have a market for my apples. I'm told that I should line up a market for the apples before I plant the trees. I say plant the trees and get them started then find a market. A four year old tree will produce one bushel of apples. I have room for about 2000 trees but only 750 trees will fit in the field in front of my home. We are working on filling that field first and then see what happens. The orchard is just a hobby for now with hopes of making some money in the years to come. The thought is that when I have a bad sugaring season maybe I will have a good apple season. A little spring and fall money would be nice. I plan to buy a cider press and sell some of that also. I have 250 trees that are producing some apples. I have ordered some bee hives. Walking in my orchard is like therapy for me. Everyday during the summer months I take walks just looking at the trees and watching them grow. My wife thinks I'm crazy but does say she likes the looks of the orchard instead of a hay field. I bought a Ferris zero turn mower last spring and I enjoy mowing the orchard in the summer months. I also have Cherry, Plum, Pear and Apricot trees planted. It's all a hobby with hopes of making some money someday. If I never make a dime with the orchard that would be ok. The joy of planting and watching them grow is a lot of fun. Someday I will be an old man sitting on my porch drinking hard cider. I don't want to have to say I wish I had done this and that. I want to be able to say I did it all and had fun doing it. My kids help plant the apple trees and complain about it. I tell them that someday when they bring their kids to visit Grandma and Grandpa they can say they helped plant the orchard.

Spud

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Very cool project. The bees seem like a natural step for any orchard. Keep posting in the off season. Always enjoy seeing what folks have for hobbies.

seems as though a lot of people don't like to make dark or commercial, someone has to supply the makers of ice cream ,donuts, cereals, maple foods etc. I wouldn't be surprised if more than half of the consumption would be B or commercial grade considering how often most people eat pancakes. I think most people see maple as big money maker(and it can be quite profitable if your able minded and bodied and aren't LAZY) and don't think the commercial is worth the time, at only 300 less a barrel its not that bad if your set up smart and not into the bank for this and that(things take time to acquire) similar as to working for yourself or owning a small business, buy new fancy tools all the time it eats at your profits, hire too many jokers it eats your profits. its imperative to do things cost effective so producing commercial is still profitable.